THE ELEPHANT-BEETLE 249 



At iast I begin to foresee the solution of the problem. 

 The egg, as I have said, is always at the base of the 

 acorn, in the midst of a soft cottony layer which is 

 moistened by the sap which oozes from the stalk. The 

 grub, upon hatching out, being as yet incapable of 

 attacking the firm substance of the cotyledons, masticates 

 the delicate felt-like layer at the base of the cup and is 

 nourished by its juices. 



But as the acorn matures this layer becomes more 

 solid in its consistency. The soft tissues harden ; the 

 moist tissues dry up. There is a period during which 

 the acorn fulfils to perfection the conditions most con- 

 ducive to the welfare of the grub. At an earlier period 

 matters would not have reached the desired stage ; 

 at a later period the acorn would be too mature. 



The exterior of the acorn gives no indication whatever 

 of the progress of this internal cookery. In order not to 

 inflict unsuitable food on the grub, the mother beetle, 

 not sufficiently informed by the look of the acorn, is thus 

 obliged to taste, at the end of her trunk, the tissues at the 

 base of the cup. 



The nurse, before giving her charge a spoonful of 

 broth, tests it by tasting it. In the same way the mother 

 beetle plunges her trunk into the base of the cup, to test 

 the contents before bestowing them upon her offspring. 

 If the food is recognised as being satisfactory the egg is 

 laid ; if not, the perforation is abandoned without more 

 ado. This explains the perforations which serve no 

 purpose, in spite of so much labour ; the tissues at the 

 base of the cup, being carefully tested, are not found to 

 be in the required condition. The elephant-beetles are 

 difficult to please and take infinite pains when the first 



